Power-operated reel and reel hoist for trucks



Nov. 4, 1952 SCHRQEML 2,616,637

POWER-OPERATED REEL AND REEL HOIST FOR TRUCKS Filed June 6, 1950 2 Sl-iEETS SI-IEET 1 T pg 36 34 Alfred E sm INVENTOR.

Nov. 4, 1952 A. F. SCHR OEML 2,616,637

POWER-OPERATED REEL AND REEL HOIST FOR TRUCKS Filed June a, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Alfred E .Schroem/ INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 POWER-OPERATED REEL AND REEL HOIST FOR TRUCKS Alfred F. Schroeml, Wadena, Minn.

Application June 6, 1950, Serial No. 166,493

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in power operated reels and more particularly to a reel attachment for trucks to facilitate the rewinding of electric conductors onto the original reels when changing transmission or distribution lines, and for other purposes.

An important object of the invention is to provide an easily demountable reel supporting and rotating shaft connected to a permanently mounted shaft carried at the side of a truck bod iiand driven by the usual power winch of the true Another object is to provide a novel swingable hoist mechanism movable into and out of hoisting position over the reel whereby the hoist may be moved into an unobstructing position inwardly at the side of the truck, when not'in use, and whereby the demountable shaft and hoist mutually support each other when in use.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view;

Figure 4 is an enlarged group perspective view of the demountable shaft;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of the cross brace for the hoist uprights.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, th numeral 5 designates a shaft journaled in bearing brackets 6 at the underside of a truck bed I in a transverse position and provided with a squared end 8 at one side edge of the truck bed.

A sprocket 9 is secured to the shaft and is driven by a chain [8 from the shaft I l of a regular power winch (not shown) of the truck.

A demountable tubular shaft [2 is formed with a hollow squared end 13 sleeved over squared end 8 of shaft 5, and a crossbar I4 is welded to 2 shaft l2 at the junction of squared end l3, the crossbar having a pair of pins l5 at its ends for insertion in the usual holes (not shown) of a cable reel I6 removably mounted on shaft 12. A spacing spool or washer I1 is positioned on the outer end of shaft l2.

A hollow post [8 is welded or otherwise secured at its lower end to truck bed I adjacent its side edge and with a pair of notches l9 in its upper end at from each other. An upper post 20 is rotatable in fixed post l8 with a collar 2| at its lower portion resting on the upper edge of post l8 and formed with a locking lug 22 selectively engaged in one of the notches [9.

A beam 23 is welded to the upper end of rotatable post 28 with a fork '24 at its outer end and in which the upper end of an upright support 25 is detachably secured by a pin 26. The lower end of support 25 is provided with a stub shaft 2'! on which the outer end of shaft [2 is journaled.

Braces 28 are provided for beam 23 and a U-shaped hanger 29 is secured to the beam to extend downwardly therefrom and to which a block and tackle 3 is attached for lifting the reel l6 onto and off of shaft I2.

A channelled cross brace 3! is formed with downwardly extending locking tongues 3| a at its ends engaged in sockets 32 and 33 carried by post l8 and support '25 to brace the latter. The lower end of support 25 and shaft I2 are also braced by a horizontal bar 34 having a threaded stud 35 at one end secured in an eye 33 at the lower end of support 25 by a nut 31 and the other end of bar 34 is formed with a downturned detent 38 engaged in an anchor plate 39 at the side of the truck bed.

In the operation of the device, shaft 5 and post I8 are mounted on the truck bed 6 adjacent one side thereof as permanent attachments, and in a position for driving shaft 5 by a suitable power source, such as the power winch (not shown) with which power line repair trucks are usually equipped.

Removable shaft l2 may then be easily and quickly sleeved onto squared end 8 of shaft 5 to drive shaft [2.

Rotatable post extension 28 is normally carried in fixed post I8 with the beam 23 swung inwardly parallel to the side of the truck, and with support 25 and horizontal brace 34 removed.

When it is desired to wind a cable on reel (6, the rotatable post 28 is raised slightly to disengage lug 22 from notch l9 and beam '23 is then swung outwardly at right angles to the side of the truck and lug 22 again locked in one of the notches I9. Block and tackle 29 is then used to hoist the reel onto shaft l2 and locked to the shaft by the pins I5. Spacing spool or sleeve I! is placed on the outer end of shaft l2 and support 25 attached at its upper end to beam 23 and stub shaft 21 inserted in the outer end of shaft I2 to support the latter. Brace 3| is then attached to post l8 and support '25 by inserting tongues 3la in sockets 32, 33, whereby to lock said support 25 against outward swinging and thus lock stub shaft 21 in the outer end of the shaft I2 and squared end 13 of shaft [2 on squared end 8 of shaft 5. This also looks reel l6 between crossbar l4 and spacer or spool 11. Brace 34 is then placed in position to relieve the shaft [2 of strain caused by the pulling of the cable during winding thereof on the reel.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a truck bed, of a horizontal power driven shaft journaled under the bed and having an outer end adjacent one side of the bed, a demountable reel carrying and driving shaft having a socketed outer end and an inner end connected to said end of said driven shaft, a driving connection between said demountable shaft and reel, a post rising from said side of the bed, a horizontal beam carried 4 at the upper end of said post and projecting over said demountable shaft, a vertical support provided with a stub shaft in said socket for rotatably supporting the outer end of said demountable shaft and being slidable out of said socket to release said demountable shaft, a pivotal connection between the upper end of said support and said beam whereby said support is swingable to slide said stub shaft out of said socket, a brace, and means attaching said brace to said post and support to prevent swinging of said support comprising detachable connections whereby said brace is detachable to provide for swinging of said support.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said beam is rotatably connected to said post for horizontal swinging to swing said sup-' port into an out-of-the-way position facilitating demounting of said demountable shaft.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein a horizontal brace extends between the lower end of said support and said bed to hold said stub shaft aligned with said demountable shaft, said horizontal brace and support being provided with detachable connections whereby said horizontal brace and support may be disconnected to provide for swinging of said support.

ALFRED F. SCI-IROEML.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 854,081 Curtis May 21, 1907 1,323,212 Saunders Sept. 15, 1931 2,438,277 Fife et a1 Mar. 23, 1948 2,467,869 'Spillman Apr. 19, 1949 2,498,191 Welker Feb. 21, 1950 

